Gas-main stopper.



.|. S. DONOHUE GAS MAIN STOPPER. APPLICATION FILED IEB. 3

Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

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JAMES S. DONOHUE, OF VASI-IINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OF THIRD T0 JQHN E. MGRELAND .AND ONE-THIRD TQ MICHAEL VQ MORAN, BOTH GF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. y

GAS-MAIN STOPPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 24, '1915.

Application filed. February 3, 1914. Serial Nd. 816,281. i

To all 107mm may C10/neem.'

Be it known that I, .latins S. Donor-inn, a citizen of the United States, residing at llVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gas-Main Stoppers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new an useful improvements in gas main lStoppers and the primary object thereoic is to provide a device of this type which after placement in the main and initial expansion to stop up the latter, may be Yfurther expanded, to any desired extent, so as to effectively seal the main by eompensatingfor any irnierfections in rthe inner circumference of the main, which imperfections result from the casting or the main and are present in the 'torni of roughened surfaces caused by depressions and projections.

A Jfurther important object of the invention is to provide means which is incorpointed in the device to seal the tap after the stopper is inserted in the main and is exi'ianded to operative position.

VStill further, the invention aims to provide a device of the type set forth which,

is oi simple and economical construction capable of positive operation with ease, facility and rapidity, which are important factors in the prevention of accidents resulting 'from the escape of the gas after tapping of the main. y

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspectivey view oiE the invention in collapsed position; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view; Fig. 3 is a perspective viewy showing the de` vice in expanded position;`Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the invention in operative position in a gas main, the latter being shown in fragment and section, and the gasket which seals the tap being also shown in section; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view; and Fig. 8 is a detail :fragmentary view of a modified form of means for holding the expander locked.

In proceeding in accordance with this invention a base member 1 is employed which has an upwardly projecting interiorly threaded tubular extension 2, which latter receives on its interior the lower threaded end 3 of a rotatable rod 4, the rod being equipped with a handle 5 by means of which the rod may be manually rotated for a purpose later' to be set forth. The rod 4 has a preferably conical guide l@rigidly mounted thereon, which guide engages with and centers thev sliding movementsv of a tubular head 7. Y

Longitudinal flat expansible and contractible springs 8 are pivotally mounted at their ends on pins 9, carried by the base 1 and head 7 in order that the springs may move from the position shown in Figs. 1 and' 2 to that'shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. The springs 8 are encompassed by comparatively soft packing 10 over which theA free edges of they heini-spherical rubber bag 11 are secured. Mounted on the upper portion of the rod l so as to have sliding movement independent thereof, is a combined tap sea-ling and ex.- pander composed of a tube 12 having an operating handle 13 atits upper end and a rubber gasket 14 suitably secured to its lower end, so that the gasket will partake of the reciprocating movements of the tube. For the purpose of holding the gasket 14 in sealing position over the tap hole H of the gas main M, means is provided to sustain the gasket in tight engagement with the mainA whichy means is shown by way oi example as consisting of a rod 15 having a hook 1G on its lower end to seat on the upper free edge oit tube 12, the upper end of the rod 15k being threaded and passed through an aperture 1S provided therefor inthe handle 5, a nut 17 being threaded on rod 15 and abuts the under face of the handle 5 whereby when the parts occupy the positions depicted in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, of the drawings, the tube 12 will be locked against upward movement and the gasket may, by manipulation of the nut 17 be-compressed against the main M so as to effectually seal the tap hole H. A further example of a 'means which can be optionally employed to lock the expander against outward movement, is illustrated in Fig. 8, in which rod 4 has rack teeth 4 engaged by a pawl 12 pivotally connected to the upper end of the springs so as to present the structure yin compact form enabling same to be placed through the taphole H, whereupon the hany Ai, and. lThemovement of they head 7 causes the closed end 7 thereof to engage dle 13 is `gripped and given inward movement to cause gasket 14 to press against and slide head 7 inwardly ythus expanding the springs 8 to the positions shownin Figs. 3,

with theupper end of the guide 6 which provides an abutment therefor and limits vthe extent of inward movement of the head 7 vfrom which it` willi'be seen that imitation` of the rode:v will move the guide 6 toward the `base -1 thus decreasing the distance between 'base 1 and guidei which permitsfurther expansive or` outward movement of' the springs 8 to thus enable the packing 10 and the adjacent freev edge portion. ot Vthe bag to be tightly engaged with the inner circumkference of the pipe so as to compensate for -any j. inequalities ordefects resulting froml casting of the-main and to thus eectively *seal the latter.

y The expander tubej11 is now locked against outward movement by use of either the rod 15 or thefpawl and rack structure, whereupon if there is any vescape'ot gas, the locking device is rendered inoperative and the rod 4f turned so as to,l 301 causefthe guide or abutmentl 6 to move toward the base l, after which the expander l fis again moved to` effect further expansion of the 'springs which is possible by reason lof the abutment having been moved towaidj` 'base 1, which operation may be repeated un-Vv til the seal is complete, when the locking device is again made operative. By manipulal and expanded in the main.

`tion of the nut 17 it will be apparent that Vffineadjustments of the locking rod 15y may be had. s

l/Vhat is claimed is: 1. n a gasl main stopper, a bag, spring means to support the bag, means to expand the spring means, means-to limit the extent 0'1": movement of the expanding means, means to hold 'the expanding means locked, and means to adjust the limiting" means whereby the expanding means may have further movement to eii'ect further yexpansion Aof the spring means after initial expansion of the spring means and after the bag is positioned 2. In a vgas main stopper', ay bag, spring means to support the bag, means to expand Copies of this patent may be obtained for the spring means, means to limit the extent ofmovement of the expanding means, means to hold the expanding means locked, means to adjust the Alimiting means whereby the expandingmeans may have further movement to etect further' expansion of the spring means after initial expansion ofthe spring means and after the bag is positioned 'is in operative position.

' Witnesses five cents each, by addressing the Washngtoml. Ggfk. n

x and expanded in tliemain, and means borne by the expanding means-to close andseal the tap hole of the main. j v

3. 1n a gas main stopper, a base, a rod having threaded connection with thefbase and having an abutmenty thereon, ahead slidable on'the rodv and havingitskinward movement restricted by said abutment a bag, spring arms connected to the base and headV and to the bag to expand and contract the latter, an expander slidable on the rod toxengagesaidy head, and means to lock'the expander againstoutward movement. j

4:. In a gasmainfstoppena base, a rod having threaded connection with the base andhavinf an abutment .thereon a head slidable on the rod and having itsinward` movementl `restricted by' said abutment, a bag, spring arms connected to the base and head and to the bag to expand and contract the latter, van expander slidable on the rod i to engage said'head, a gasket carried by the expander for engagement over the main tap hole to sealfthe latter, and means to lock the expander against outward movement.

5.@ln a gas main stopper, a base,fa "head lmovable yrelative to the base, a bag, expansible and contractible means to connect the bag tothehead and base, adjustable means connected to the base for limiting the extent of movement of the head towardthe base and means to lock the head against outl and means yto lock the expander in operative position.

7. 1n a gas main stopper, expansible and contractible means to close the main, adjustable means to limitthe extent of expansion Y of saidv irst named means, means to operate the first named means, and means to lockthe operatingkmeans against movement.k

8. 1n a gas main'stopper, expansible'and contractible means to close the main, means to limit the Vexpansive lmovement, of said means,l and meansy to adjust the limiting means whereby toenable further expansionv of said first named' means when the Vlatter 1n testimony 'whereof Janes s; -Dononnn Boron A. Runes, Cimnnns LOWELL HOWARD.

Commissioner of Patents.

1 have hereunto set i my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- 

